Maszlee Malik dismayed, 21,316 Students Quit School

Former education minister Maszlee Malik and internet users were dismayed by the large number of school leavers.

The pandemic has been extremely difficult for both students and teachers, to the extent that students have found it extremely difficult to switch into online education and cope.

This is particularly for those in poorer and rural areas, as they have difficulties participating due to a lack of infrastructure and access.

Former education minister Maszlee Malik expressed dismay on Twitter when he learned that as many as 21,316 students quit school between March 2020 and July 2021.

“Please save my country and my people from the uncertainty of the future and decay under corrupt rulers.”

Former education minister Maszlee Malik on Twitter.

He also attached a screenshot of a reply by Education Minister Mohd Radzi Jidin to Kangar MP Noor Amin Ahmad who asked how many children have stopped schooling since March 2020.

From March to December 2020, 11,301 kids (0.24 percent) quit attending school, according to the tweet. The total number of students was 10,015 from January to July 2021. (0.21 percent).

According to Malaysiakini, Maszlee Malik started Untuk Malaysia, a public sponsorship scheme, in early January this year to prevent students from dropping out of school during the pandemic.

Every month, the movement requires at least RM250 per child. In the initial stage, Maszlee aimed to assist at least 1,000 youngsters.

Volunteers and teachers are also trained before assisting in the teaching of youngsters to read, write, and calculate as part of the program.

Even though the movement was well-intentioned, it appears that it was insufficient.

What are the opinions of netizens on the number of dropouts?

A netizen expressed his concern, claiming that the rising number of dropouts will have an impact on the country in ten years.

Dropouts have a variety of causes.

There are no explanations presented as to why there are so many school leavers.

Child and teen marriage • Lack of internet access • Financial restrictions owing to low salaries and high cost of living are just a few of the factors that have been mentioned over the years.

Some of these factors were also mentioned by Twitter users.